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Lee Minhyuk
present time

"It's been a week and a half since you left the hospital. In what world are you okay to go back to work?" Kihyun's voice echoed from the hallway into the bathroom. I continued to brush my hair, fixing the odd strands that would stick up, pointing in any random direction.

"I can't afford to stay at home any longer, I have bills and rent to pay, and sadly, I need to continue living." I sighed.

He appeared at the doorway. "So you admit it was intention-"

"For the last time, Yoo Kihyun," I turned around, greeted by a defensive stance consisting of crossed arms and a frown. It could've been threatening, if he didn't look so damn cute with pink hair. "I didn't take triple the supposed amount of sleeping pills I was meant to on purpose."

I quickly turned around, I wouldn't believe myself either.
He sighed, "Fine, you didn't. Just hurry up before I leave without you."

"I'm finished, relax." I replied curtly before taking the flask of coffee he'd prepared for me. I took a quick sip, slipping into my duster jacket and grabbing my bag. Beside me Kihyun did the same, already putting on his 'Doctor' lanyard, the two of us in silence.

I met Kihyun in my first year of university; he was one of the people I shared a kitchen with at the dorms, and the only way we came to meet during the eventful night was when he accidentally left food in the oven to cook, setting off the fire alarms and evacuating at least 50 grumpy students during finals week.
Before they could gang up on him, I stood up up for the poor man, and ever since then, I found that Kihyun was a great listener & equally great at giving good advice.

I knew he would always be there for me too, and 5 years later, I have never had a reason to doubt him, especially over the last few days. He'd moved in for a little while to take care of me after I was discharged from the hospital, and hasn't left my side since then.
Over the years, Kihyun assured me that I could turn to him to celebrate and expect him to celebrate with me, or to vent, and have him talk me out of doing anything stupid - that which became more frequent over the past few months, but that was a different story for a different day.

I opened the door, stepping out to the early morning sun, and inexplicably cold winds as we reached the peak of winter. With a shiver and some grumbles, I wrapped my scarf around me with my spare hand. At least that was until a light brown blur sprinted past me, bumping into my hand and sending my flask flying as they did so.

"Hey!" I yelled, but all they did was yell back a sorry!, already near the last flight of stairs. I shook my head.

Kihyun walked out. "You could have just said it was bad."

"No, some asshole bumped it out of my hands," I picked up the flask that laid before us, partially defeated. "it's okay, I'll grab some on the way, I'll just put this back and we can leave before Mrs Kang makes me lick it off the floor or something."

Whilst Kihyun spent many nights reading over his medicine notes back at the dorms, I spent mine snoring over my own Law notebooks, and somehow managed to make it as a detective for the Gangnam Police Department, badge shining brightly on my belt as a proof of my greatest ass-pull.
It was the job I wanted, initially at least.
But a year along the line, topped with an overly excited boss, an irritating secretary and asshole hoobaes, the mere thought of it makes me launch myself down the stairs of our apartment block.